# Development Best Practices

> Review or refactor Python code specifically for Python idioms, maintainability, typing, API design, or language-level design problems.

- Skill: `rhenter/development-best-practices` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add rhenter/development-best-practices`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/rhenter/development-best-practices/raw
- Safety review: pending
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Integrations & APIs
- Author: rhenter (https://skillmd.com/u/rhenter)
- Updated: 2026-09-22
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/rhenter/development-best-practices

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# Python Best Practices

- Prefer readable, idiomatic Python and PEP 8.
- Use type hints for public APIs and non-trivial functions.
- Avoid mutable default arguments and hidden side effects.
- Prefer `pathlib` when appropriate and the standard library when it solves the problem cleanly.
- Preserve backward compatibility unless breaking changes are explicitly allowed.